Your Baby and Teething

Just when your little baby is starting to sleep through the night and you are getting a handle on baby’s cues and cries, your little one starts getting cranky, drooling uncontrollably and fussy. This may be a sign that your baby has started teething. Teething can start as soon as 4 months and continues till about 2 ½ years for baby teeth. The lower front teeth typically erupt first. Many parents don’t remember teething, but it can be very painful and uncomfortable. If your little one is gnawing on everything he/she can grab or has a bump or swelling on her/his gums, appearing to be fussy and cranky even after feeding and being changed, drooling a lot more, pulling on his/her ears because the lower jaw nerve runs near the middle ear, your baby is probably starting to teeth. If your baby is drooling and refusing to eat and has a temperature, your baby is sick-call your pediatrician.
What to do? First, soothe him/her with whatever soothing routine you usually rely on. If that’s not helping, massage your baby’s gums with your clean finger. Gently massage the area while your baby gnaws your finger. You can also chill a damp towel in the refrigerator or a teething ring for your baby to chew on. The cold temperature and rough texture will alleviate some of the discomfort. If your baby has started solid foods, you can have him/her chew on bits of semi-frozen bananas or whatever food item you choose to chill or semi-freeze. Don’t make it too frozen; it will be too hard to chew- stick in freezer for 15 mins or chill in fridge.
Talk to your pediatrician or dentist before you use any over-the-counter medication for teething. You can give your baby a dose of infant Tylenol, under a pediatrician’s supervision. Ask your dentist for recommendations on topical anesthetic gels. The American Dental Association and FDA have recommended a caution on using over-the-counter teething medications with benzocaine because medical complications have been seen in babies being given excess amounts. Consult your family dentist for the recommended amount to use.
Take to heart: your baby’s pain from teething will subside in a few days.
For more information, please call 661-253-0588 and visit www.drfangdds.com.